Locomotive stoker



Feb. 20, 1940. E. MARTIN LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed March 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E119 e/ze Mam/6 02 Feb. 20, 1940. E M RTm 2,191,112

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER I Filed March 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 INVENTOR. v

54/ 9/12 Maw/25 02 Patented Feb; 20, 1940 UNITED STATES apruz rat an rric 2,191,112 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Eugene Martin; Erie, Pa., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1937, Serial No. 128,892

11 Claims. (01. 110-104) This invention relates to locomotive stokers of the type which feed fuel through an opening in the locomotive firebox backwall. More particu- I It is the principal object of this invention to provide new and improved stoker means for feeding fuel through the opening in a locomotive firebox backwall, which means includes an arrange- .ment of parts permitting free access to interior of the firebox through said opening.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a stoker which includes distributing means at the firing opening extending to a point forward of the outer surface of the fire boxbackwall, a conveyor for urging fuel to said distributing means, and fuel deflecting means between said conveyor and distributing means comprising a pair of independently operable vanes extending into the firing opening, such vanes being operable across said firing opening to control the flow of fuel to said distributing means and being retractable to a position adjaw cent the sides of saidfiring opening.

A still further object of this invention contemplates adapting the fuel guiding means to a stoker feeding throughfan 'elliptically shaped Opening of conventional size and shape.

It is also an object of this invention to provide novel fuel guiding vanes which are mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending in the direction of fuel through the stoker.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fuel supporting surface within the firing opening and across which fuel supporting surface the lower edge of each guide vane operates, such fuel supporting surface being shaped to allow the preponderant mass of fuel usually conveyed along its central portion to spread laterally, there" by securing a normally uniform delivery of fuel to the distributing means. I

Other objects reside in the particular mounting of the fuel guide vanes, the means for adjusting them in various positions in the firing opening, and the novel relation of parts one with another for producing a stoker which occupies very little space in the cab and one which may be cheaply installed on existing hand-fired loco.- motives.

These objects and the advantages to be derived 55 therefrom will become apparent upon reading the through the laterally extending flanges 26.

following description in connection. with the accompanying drawings, in which,

1 is a central vertical section taken longi: tudinally through the backwall of a locomotive f rebox showing the stoker embodying this inven- 5 tion partly in similar section and partly in side elevation; j

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1,.with parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 0fFig.l;and I Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. i i On these drawings, it represents a locomotive, H. the boiler thereof and i2 the hollow backwall including the outer sheet 53 and theinner sheet It. At a suitable distance above the cab deck.

it and the grates [6 of the firebox ill. the inner 201 1 and outer sheets are flanged inwardly toward each other to form the conventional firing open ing it. This firing opening is usually elliptical .in shape and measures approximately sixteen (16). inches in height and twenty (20) inches in 25 1 width, thereby affording free and unobstructed entry into the firebox. It is, of course, understood that insome instances thesedimensions will vary. 1

The stoker for transferring fuel from the tender 30' (not shown) to the locomotive is indicated by 'S and comprises a fuel elevator it] on the locomo tive, and a conveyor 28 which is flexibly connected to the lower end of the elevator !9 below the cab deck l5 by a ball and socket joint 2|. 35 The elevator [9 comprises a tubular conduit 22' which is secured to a bracket 23 carried by the backwall I 2, and a fuel delivery conduit 21 se-' cured to the backwall l2 bybolts 25 passing Fuel is urged upwardly through the elevator i9 by a conveyor screw 2'! disposed mainly within the tubular conduit 22 and having a tapered forward portion 21a within the conduit portion 28 of the delivery conduit 2d. At their juncture, the 45. tubular conduit 22 and the conduit portion 28 are provided with flanges 22a and 252a. respectively, arranged in abutting relation and through which flanges bolts 29 are passed for securing the tubular conduit 22 to the delivery conduit 24.

The conduit portion 28 opens upwardly into a casing til having an arcuate top wall 3i and curving side walls 3Z,the outer marginal edges 33 i of which walls, together with the upper edge of p the conduit portion rearward wall 38, define an 5 ther description thereof is not deemed necessary,

except to state that this door may be operated by power or manual means.

In order that the casing 30, and consequently the firedoor 35, may not extend an objectionable distance rearward of the backwall I2, the forward wall 3! and the rearward wall 38 01 the conduit portion 23 converge toward each other in. forward. extent. The side walls 39 of this conduit portion flare outwardly in forward extent to provide a somewhat elliptically shaped aperture 4!! which opens into the casing 3!). Within the casing 38, and as a forward and upward ex tension of the conduit portion rearward wall 38,

is a guide plate 41 which is hinged upon a long pin it extending across the upper edge of said conduit rearward wall 38. The guide plate 4! is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 by the fuel stream entering the casing so, further rearward movement of said guide plate 4! from that shown being prevented by a lug 32a extending inwardly from each side wall 32 of saidcasingi; It will thus be apparent that the guide plate 4! prevents coal within the casing from spilling on the cab deck l5 when the firedoor 35 is opened to inspect firebox conditions. Whenever access to the interior of the firebox is desired, the guide plate ll may be lowered over the aperture 43. 7

Fuel enters the casing 33 through the aperture 43 and is then urged forwardly to a fuel distributor .43 positioned at the firing opening 18. The

fuel distributor 43 consists of a, pressure fluid jet,

member 44 which is secured, at its rearward end outside the firebox backwall l2, by bolts 45 to the h forward wall 31 of the conduit portion 28.

jet member 44 forms a delivery plate over which The fuel is urged forwardly. From its rearward end outside the firebox backwall E2 the jet member 44 extends forwardly through the lowermost portion of the firing opening into the firebox l1, being provided at its forward terminal 46 with jet openings 47. These jet openings discharge fluid under pressure, supplied by pipes 48 to the jet chambers 49, across the upper surface 50] of the distributing table 5! which is carried by the jet member 44 in a manner well known.

In order to control the flow of fuel across the upper fuel supporting surface 440:. and into the zone of action of the distributor jet member 44, novel fuel guiding means is provided which is especially adaptable for use in connection with stokers' feeding through a firing opening of coriventional shape and size. This guiding means includes a pair of vanes 52, 53, one at eachside of the firing opening I8 and positioned to act upon the fuel stream prior to the action thereon of the distributor jet member 44. Each vane 52, 53 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 54 carried by the casing 33 rearward of the backwall l2 and above the confines of the firing opening I8. The pins 54 extend longitudinally of the locomotive boiler permitting movement of each vane 52, 53 about an axis extending longitudinally of the locomotive.

Each vane 52, 53 extends into the firing open ing it and the side of each vane is shapedto conform to the sides of the elliptical firing opening 18 whereby they may be retracted to a position' closely adjacent said firing opening to provide maximum clearance for entrance into the firebox H. The lower edge of each vane 52, 53 is arranged to move across the fuel supporting surface 44a of the jet member 44, and since each lower edge moves in an are described from the axis of a respective pin 54, the upper surface 44a is similarly formed leaving an elevated portion 55 in the central zone of said upper surface 461a. This elevated central portion 55 will be found of advantage in spreading laterally the preponderant mass of fuel usually passing across the jet member 44. v

At the rearward end of each vane 52, 53 is a lateral outward extension 52a, 5311, respectively, flttingagainst the inner side of the flanges 26 which are hollowed as shown in Fig. 3 to accommodate these extensions. The extensions 52a, 53a serve to maintain a seal between the inner side of the flanges 26 and the backwall 12 to prevent loss'of fuel when vanes 52, 53, respectively, are moved inwardly across the jet member 44.

Below the casing 30, each vane 52, 53 is provided with means for conveniently adjusting the angular position of each vane independently and also for locking each vane in its adjusted position. For this purpose, the lower end 52b, 53b of each extension 52a, 53a, respectively, has secured therein a pin 6| which extends rearwardly of the flange 2B and upon which pin a handle 55 is mounted to slide therealong against the tension of a spring 51 which is positioned between the head 58 of the pin GI and the forward end 53 of the handle 56. The forward end of the handle 56 is somewhat reduced in diameter and is arranged to fit into an arcuate scalloped slot 60 formed in the flange 26. Each scalloped slot 60 is formed by providing a series of holes along an arc described from the center of a respective pin 1 54, the centers of the holesin each series being spaced apart along this are at a distance less than the diameter of each hole.

i In the operation of this device, fuel enters the casing 30 through the aperture 43 and is restrained against rearward movement by the guide plate 4|. Thence, the fuel passes across the'upper surface of the jet-member upon which it spreads laterally due-to the elevated central portion 55. If, because of uneven draft or for other reasons, it is desired to supply more or less 1 fuel to one side of the firebox, the fireman grasps the handle 56 and withdraws its forward end 59 from the scalloped arcuate slot 50. Then the handle is swung to the right or left, as the particular situation demands, and upon reaching the desired angular position, the handle 56 is moved forwardly to cause the forward end 59 thereof to engage a new position in the scalloped slot 50. This causes the lower edge of a respective vane 52, 53 to move inwardly or outwardly across the upper surface 440. of the jet member 44, thereby forming in effect an expansible and contractible discharge outlet for fuel before its passage into the zoneof action of the jet member 44. Upon falling over the forward terminal 45, the fuel is projected forwardly by blasts of pressure fluid issuing from the jets 4T. Ribs 52 on the upper surface of the distributing table 5! direct the fuel 7 conventional firing opening, occupies but a small amount of space above the cab deck, and that the novel fuel deflecting means is effective to control the flow 01' fuel to the distributor. It will be furinto the firebox.

I claim: 1. In combination with a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening and a grate below the level of said firing opening,

a stoker for feeding fuel into said firebox comprising a conduit incommunication with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit and into said opening, a delivery plate extending forwardly from said conduit, means forward of said delivery plate for projecting fuel over the firebox grate, the upper surface of said delivery plate constituting a support for the fuel urged therealong, and-means for deflecting fuel laterally across the upper surface of said plate ZO' comprising a pair of guide vanes arranged for movement across the upper surface of said. plate. each of said vanes being mounted for angular adjustment about an axis disposed above the upper surface of said member and extending approximately parallel to such surface, the lateral portion at each side of such surfacebeing in the form of a cylindric element described from the axis of a respective vane.

2. In a stoker for a firebox having a wall with :0 an opening therein, a stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said opening, means for advancing fuel through said conduit, a plate-like member at the discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface, a concave 5 recess formed in the fuel supporting surface of said plate-like member adjacent each lateral extremity thereof and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending fuel guiding elements mounted to turn about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface, the axes of said fuel guiding elements being so disposed with respect to said recesses that upon turning of the said guiding elements portions thereof pass across the surfaces defining said recesses.

an opening therein, a stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said opening, means for advancing fuel through said conduit, a plate-like member at the discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface, a longitudinally elon atedconcave recess formed in the fuel supporting surface of said plate-like member adjacent each lateral extremity thereof and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending fuel guiding elements mounted to turn about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuelsupporting surface, the axis of said fuel guiding elements being so disposed with respect to said recesses that upon turning of the said guiding elements portions thereof pass across the surfaces defining said recesses.

4. In a stoker for a firebox having a wall with an. opening therein, a Stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said opening, means for advancing fuel through said conduit, a jet headatthe discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface, a longitudinally elongated concave recess formed in the fuel supporting of said jet head adjacent each lateral extremity thereof and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending fuel guiding elements mounted to turn about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface, the axes of said fuel guiding elements said recesses.

3. In a stoker for a firebox having awall with being so disposed with respect to said recesses that upon turning of the said guiding elements portions thereof pass across the surfaces defining 5. Ina stoker for a firebox having a wall with an opening therein, a stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said opening, means for advancing fuel through said conduit, a plate-like memberat the discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface, a concave recess formed in the fuel supporting surface of plate-like member adjacent each lateral extremity thereof and a pair of laterally spaced 1ongitudinally extending fuel guiding elements mounted to turn about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface,

each of said concave recesses being described from ..c rxsof arcrpec'tive fuel guiding element, a portion of each of said fuel guiding elements fitting closely against the surface defining a respective recess.

6. In stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker fuel feedin conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said ,conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a surface along which fuel is urged to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximity to the said surface of said member, and said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of said guiding elements when swung about their longitudinally extending axes.

7. In a stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface across which the fuel is urged to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximity to said fuel supporting surface, and said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of said guiding elements when swung about their longitudinally extending axes.

8. In combination, a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a

Stoker comprising a fuel feeding conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a surface along which fuel is urged to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements extending into said firing opening and mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximity to the said surface of said member, said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of said guiding elements when swung about their longitudinally extending axes and said vanes being curved to fit closely against the sides of said firing opening. v

9. In combination, a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker comprising a fuel feeding conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a fuel supporting upper surface across which the fuel is urged'to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements extending into said firing opening and mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximity to said fuel supporting surface, said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of said guiding elements when swung about their longitudinally extending axes and said vanes being curved to fit closely against the sides of said firing opening.

10. In a stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a stcker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a surface along which fuel is urged to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximity to the said surface of said member, said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of .said guiding elements when swung about their longitudinally extending axes, and flanges formed with and extending laterally from the rearward ends of said guiding elements to form a fuel seal between said conduit and said guiding elements. v

11. In a stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall provided with a firing opening, a stoker fuel feeding conduit communicating with said firing opening, means for urging fuel through said conduit, a member at the discharge end of said conduit having a'fuel supporting upper surface across which the fuel is urged to the firebox, and a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced fuel guiding elements mounted to swing about longitudinally extending axes disposed above said fuel supporting surface, said guiding elements being arranged to have their free ends in close proximityto said fuel supporting surface, said surface being curved to conform to the path described by the free ends of said guiding elements when swung'about their longitudinally extending axes, and flanges formed with and extending laterally from the rearward ends of said guiding elements to form a fuel seal between said conduit and said guiding elements.

EUGENE MARTIN. 

